Control device for the lift box motion on looms



i June 22, 1965 J. PlcANol. 3,190,311

coNTRoL DEvIcE FOR THE LIFT Box MoTIoN on Looms Filed July s, 1962 e sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR. j. Pdcanol ATTO (LNE'SS J. PIGANOL June 22, 1965 CONTROL DEVICE FOR THE LIFT BOX MOTION ON LOOMS Filed July 3, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. J, PC an OZ ATTO RNC-.'55

June 22, 1965 J. PlcANoL. 3,190,317

CONTROL DEVICE FOR THE LIFT BOX MOTION ON LOOMS Filed July 3, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 .52 64 49 INVENTOR,

j. PL c an o Z BY ATTO [LNEBS June 22, 1955 J. PxcANQL @309W CONTROL DEVICE FOR THE LIFT BOX MOTION ON LOOMS Filed July s, 1962 s sneetsmsheet 4 INVENTOR.v n j. Pcanol BY @Mang ATTOTLNEBS J. PICANOL June 22, 1965 CONTROL DEVICE FOR THE LIFT BOX MOTION ON LOOMS Filed July 3, 1962 e sheets-snet 5 INVENTOR. J. PL'canoZ BY @MJ-#S /ATTOLNESS CONTROL DEVICE FOR THE LIFT BOX MOTION ON LOOMS Filed July s, 1962 J. PICANOL June 22, 1965 sheets-sheet e INVENTOR. j. PLcano! United States Patent() 3,190,317 CUNI'RL DEVICE FR THE LIFT BOX MUIIGN N LQMS Jaime Picanol, Casa Pairal Catalunya, Zandberg, Zillebeke-lez-Ypres, Belgium Filed July 3, 1962, Ser. No. 207,371 Claims priority, application Belgium, Mar. 2d, 1962, 615,295 2 Claims. (Cl. 139-179) On looms in general, and more particularly on looms of the lift box type, it is most important, without impairing the performance of the loom, to be able to keep the instantaneous shuttle speed, respectively the mean shuttle speed, as low as possible. It is well known, that an increase in this speed automatically increases wear and produces maladjustrnents and stoppages, thus finally reducing the overall performance of the loom.

In looms of the litt box type, this problem becomes even more acute due to the greater complexity of the looms, and to the necessity of immobilizing the shuttles against the picker at the bottom of the box without rebound, as well as due to the use of a plurality of shuttles, which are all factors contributing to the complication of the mechanisms involved.

Besides, on looms of the lift box type, the time available during one revolution of the crankshaft for the shuttle to effect its two picks is further reduced by the time necessarily required for the vertical, or approximately vertical displacements of the lift box in order to bring the compartment containing the shuttle to be picked to the level of the shuttle track, in accordance with the mechanisrn of the loom.

With known types of mechanisms, the box movements are traditionally subjected to requirements which limit their speed. rI`he mass of the lift box with its load is indeed quite considerable, so that the possibility of jarring, and hence of maladjustments, exist permanently.

In prior art, suicient time has been allotted to the movements of the lift box, to the disadvantage of the shuttle speed, and also to that of the speed of the crankshaft rotation, or of the picking speed of the loom, and hence of the efficiency of the latter.

A iirst object of the present invention is, rather paradoxically, to increase the efficiency of the loom by reducing its mean shuttle speed. It is indeed reasonable to uphold, that on a 50 wide loom for instance, rotating at 200 rpm., the speed of the shuttle, when the movements of the boxes take up one half of the revolution of the crankshaft, will be around 43 ft./s. Now if it were possible to bring about the movement of said shuttle box during a 140 rotation of the crankshaft for instance, instead of during a 180 rotation, the time of an angular displacement of an extra 40 would be available for the displacements of the shuttle along its track, so that its speed, which was originally about 43 ft./s. could be reduced to approximately 36 ft./s.

Another object of the present invention resides in an arrangement whereby while the displacement speed of the box is considerably increased, this increased speed is determined in such a manner as to keep the speed of the shuttle along its track below certain reasonable limits.

A further object of the present invention consists in conditioning the drive mechanism of the shuttle box in such a manner, that without impairing the safety of the apparatus or the perfect immobilisation in the correct position, the movements of the box will always correspond to a rotation of the crankshaft of considerably less than 180, and preferably of the order of magnitude of 140, whichever be the compartment which has to be aligned with the shuttle track.

Patented June 22, 1965 ICC Yet another object of the present invention is concerned with the design of the mechanism itself, specially conditioned to drive the shuttle box under above-mentioned conditions and without shocks, distortions or harmful vibrations, the whole assembly being designed to operate as an oil bath mechanism comprising two superposed massive gear cases containing compact elements of great rigidity and capable of immobilizing at the level of the shuttle track each one of the compartments with an equal degree of precision and safety.

All these characteristics will now be described in greater detail although without implying any limitations, refer ence being made to the appended drawings of which:

FIGURE 1 is a general perspective view of a control device according to the invention, mounted on a lift box loom;

FIGURE 2 is a partially cnt-away view of the double oil bath gear case with certain elements which are related to it;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal cross-section, more particularly showing the double gear case;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-section through one compartment of the double gear case, roughly according to line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective View of one of the characteristic compact elements contained in aforesaid double gear case;

FIGURES 6, 7, 8 and 9 schematically represent four characteristic positions of the mechanical linkage whichdetermine the four positions of the lift box;

FIGURE l0 is a simplied cross-section according to the line X-X of FIG. 4;

FIGURE 1l is a cross-section similar to that of FIG. 10, the mechanism being shown in its driving position;

FIGURE 12 is a simplitied top view according to arrow F12 of FIG. 4;

FIGURE 13 is a cross-section according to line XIII- XIII of FIG. 4;

FIGURE 14 is a cross-section according to line XIV- XIV of FIG. 13;

FIGURE 15 is a schematic upright view of a safety device of the mechanism according to the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is an upright view with partial cross-section of another safety device of the mechanism according to the present invention.

One of the essential characteristic features of the present invention resides in the compactness, the extreme sturdiness and the safety of the mechanism, which permits extremely rapid displacements of the box Without detrimental shocks or vibrations, and every time assures a perfect immobilization of the box in the correct position with the required compartment exactly at the level of the shuttle track.

This mechanism, as shown in FIGURE 1, includes a double gear case 1, 2 fitted to the lower part of the loom and solidly attached to the framework of the latter, at the foot of the slay sword. This double gear case encloses two compartments 3, 4 (FIG. 3), the 'iirst of which is closed by a cover 5 and the second of which is closed by the bottom of the iirst compartment. The latter houses a driving device 6 and actuating devices 7, 8 (FIG. 4) which, on the one hand, are influenced and controlled by the pattern mechanism of the loom 9 and, on the other hand, are influencing and controlling the selection device 10 which ensures the correct displacements of actuating device 11 of shuttle box 12.

The double gear case is so constructed that compartment 3 (FIG. 3), which houses the parts most subjected to wear, forms an oil bath, which constitutes an important new feature in this field. Moreover, this same V37, 38 and 39, 40, respectively.

double gear case 1, 5 (FIG. 3) is so constructed that in compartment 3 there is but one inlet opening for power shaft 13 and the two shafts'14, 15. The free ends of these shafts are provided withV cranks 16, 17 t0 the ends of which are attached rods or cables 18, 19 which connect up to the abovernentioned pattern mechanism of the loom 9. The power shaft 13 carries aY multiple ring gear 2d which can be actuated from crankshaft 21 by means of chains 22. A mechanical safety'coupling Vdevice 23 well known in the art, is provided between the shaft 13 and the ring gear 2G. Y

The driving device of the mechanism (FIGS. 3 and 4) which is the object of the present invention and'which is actuated by the shaft 13, comprises a drum 24 keyed to the power shaft 13. This drum is divided lengthwise into four adjacent sections, namely a smooth .section 25, a second section 26 bearing a toothed segment 27, a third section 28 which is also smooth and a fourth section 29 also bearing toothed segment 3i) which however is angulariy displaced relatively to the segment 27. The first tooth 31, 32 (FIG. 4) of each of these two toothed segments has a width which is considerably larger than that of a normal tooth.

The driving device is actually a double one (FIG. 4), namely, there is a separate device for each toothed segment 27, 313. Each driving device consists of a lshaft 33, 34 upon which is keyed a disc 35, 36, the perimeter of which is provided with two opposite toothed segments pitch of these toothed segments correspond respectively to those of toothed segments 27, 30 of aforesaid driving device. On each of these discs, the toothed segments are separated by smooth portions 41, 42 and 43, 44 respectively. Each of the smooth portions is provided with a notch 45, 46 and 47, 4S (FIG.V 4), respectively. One of the edges of each of these notches is lspaced fromV the first tooth of the adjacent toothed segment by a distance equal to or slightly greater than the width of the special teeth 31, 32. To the rear of the discs 35, 36 these same shafts 33, 34 each carry a rigid idler retaining plate 49, 511, respectively; each of these plates has two opposite concave sides 51, 52 and 53, 54, the radius of which is the same as that of the smooth sections 25, 28 of the driving device 6. Two openings 55, 56 Vand 57,58 are provided diametrically opposite each other on each of these plates (FIGS. 4 and 5). The plates 49 --and 50 are Upon engage.-

VThe length and the Y are also provided, the positions of these sliders being dej termined bythe shafts 14, 15 which are controlled Lby the pattern mechanism of the loom (FIGS. 4 and 5 slider 61 is provided with Va groove 62 and, at different distances from the latter, with Vtwo lateral projections 63,

Each

64 the profile of which is such that they can fit either in g the notches 45, 48 of toothed discs 35, 36 or in openings 55, 58 provided in theretaining plates 49, 50 (FIGS. 4 and 10). l

Forked ends 65, 66 of levers 67, 68 are engaged in a groove 62 of each of the driving devices 7, 8. A hollow f 4, machined and are a sliding fit respectively in the bore 74 and in a second bore 77. Meshing with the rack '79 is a toothed sector 73 fixed upon the input shaft 14.

On the other hand, the free end of the other lever 68 carries a trunnion 79 which ts into the forked end 8i) of rocker lever S1, capable of pivoting around pivot pin S2 which is xed in the bottom of the housing; the other end 33 of the rocker lever forms the female part of a ball joint, the male part 84 of which is fitted to the end of a crank S5, carried by the second input shaft 15. In order to guide the lever68 during its translatory movements, the latter is preferably provided with a short shaft 6 which can be positively guided in a bore of the housing (FIG. 4.)

Finally, the selection device, which has to bring box 12 each time to its correct position, consists substantially of two cranks 87, 88 (FIG. 2), each fitted upon one of the crankshafts 59, 6tlg' the connecting rod 89 to which the cranks are hinged by means of pivot pins 90, 91 is hinged to a lever 92 by a pivot pin 93; the lever 92 is hinged atv one end about a pivot pin 94 which is fixed to the housing, its other end being hinged, by means of pivot pin 95, to the upper end of a rod 96, whereby the pivot pin 95y has a certain lateral freedom of movement, by means of an elongated hole orv any'similar device,

' so as to permit the oscillations of the lever 92 and of the rod 96 around their respective Vpivoting points., The rod 96 (FIG. 1) fits at its lower end into a shoe 97 to which it lis attached by means of spring catchV 98, 100 which kenters the notch 99 of the rod. The lower end of shoe 97 is hinged by meansof pivot pin 101 to the lower yextremity of a high resistance strut 102, the top end of which is rigidly fixed to box 12, by means of bolts 103,

v1134 or the like. Also fixed to the lower end of strut 102 is a rod 105 which passes with a sliding fit through guiding element 106 which is solidly attached to the 'adjacent part of slay 107.

Further, a safety device (FIG. 15) is located within the gear case in order to avert any undue freedom of movement, particularly of the selection elements. For this purpose, discs 1118, 109 are keyed on shafts 33, 34, respectively, each disc being provided with two diametrically opposed peripherial notches 110, 111 and 112, 113, respectively. Two bell cranks 115, 116 are pivoted upon acommon shaft 114, one end of each crank being tted with a roller 117, V118, respectively, the otherV ends of the cranks being subjected to the pull of return springs, l119, 120. This safety device operated in such manner that when both shafts 33, 34 are in their characteristic positions, their respective rollers 117, 118 engage notches 110, 111 or 112,113. t

The operation of the present lift box control device is as follows: when the device is at rest, shafts 14- 15 areV in such a position that the elements which are attached to them hold sliders 61 at# the end of their stroke, i.e., in such a position that projections 63, 64 are engaged respectively in cut out ropenings 55, 57 of retaining plates 49, 50 and in notches 46, 4S of toothed discs35, 36 (FIG. r10).

`In V4this position, driving mechanism 6 rotates continuously without encountering any obstacles, being actuated by sprocket 20 and chains 22. (FIG. 1)'.

On an impulserfr'om patternmechanisrn 9, shafts 14- 15 can be `rotated, either simultaneously or separately,

' in one sense or inthe other,'in such manner that cranks 87, 88 and the entire drive mechanism of the boX, can be placed in the yfour characteristic positions schematically represented by FIGURES 6 to j9, which correspond to bringingeach of compartments I, II, III and IV to level X-X of the shuttle track. These four positions are determined by the four relatedcharacteristic positions of the two'cranks 87,88, and rconsequently of the four characteristic positionsy of the two crankshafts 59, 60.

As schematically represented in FIGS. 6 to 9 the first crankshaft is at top dead center and the second at bottom dead center (FIG. 6), or both crankshafts are at bottom dead center (FIG. 7), or else both crankshafts are at top dead center (FIG. 8), or finally, the first crankshaft is at bottom dead center and the second at top dead center (FIG. 9).

It may be assumed that the mechanism, in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and l0, relates to the characteristic position of FIG. 6 which corresponds to the aligning of first compartment I of the box with level X-X of the shuttle track. It will be noted that the mechanism is completely locked in this position by the individual locking of shafts 33, 34 of the crankshaft. The shaft 13 is locked by the two-fold engagement on the one hand of projection 63 of its slider 61 in the cut-out opening of retainer plate 49 and, on the other hand, of projection 64 of the same slider 61 in notch 46 of gear toothed disc 35.

The shaft 34 (FIGA) is similarly locked by the double engagement on the one hand of projection 63 of its slider 61 in cut out opening 57 of the corresponding retaining plate Si) and, on the other hand, of the second projection 64 of the same slider 61 in notch 48 of gear toothed disc 36.

In order to align the second compartment II with the level of the track X-X (FIG. 7), it will be suicient to bring crank 87, and the corresponding crankshaft 59, to its bottom dead center by a rotation of 180. This movement is controlled by the mechanism of the loom, which causes the rotation of shaft 14. The latter displaces slider 61 by means of fork 67, rack-toothed hollow rod 69, 70 (FIG. 17) and toothed sector 78 (FIG. 13). rfhis displacement of the slider 61 is such that its projection 63 is disengaged from the opening 5S in retainer plate 49 into which it was engaged, said projection now locating itself in notch 45 of adjacent toothed disc 35 in such manner that it projects over the non-toothed part 41 of said disc by an amount roughly equal to the depth of one tooth as shown in FIGS. l0 and l1. Therefore, the projection 63 will be disengaged, so that the alignment of the second compartment can take place.

Moreover in this manner, and in cooperation with a neighboring tooth, projection forms a hollow which is roughly equal to special tooth 31 of corresponding smooth segment Z9 of driving device 6 (FIG. 4). At this moment, toothed disc 35 is released and is actuated by toothed segment 27 of the driving device. The length of this toothed segment is such that it corresponds to a 180 rotation of toothed disc 35, and consequently also of crankshaft 59.

Having reached the end of its stroke, the mechanism releases its stress upon shaft 14, which is brought back to its initial position (FIG. 10). Slider 61 is also automatically brought back to its initial position, i.e., into its locking position of the corresponding crankshaft, by means of toothed disc 3S. This locking is maintained during a rotation of approximately 580 of the crankshaft, i.e., the time which elapses between two displacements of the lift box.

Now in order to align the third compartment, III, with the level of the shuttle track, it is necessary to bring both crankshafts 59, 6i) to their top dead centers. To this purpose, the pattern mechanism of the loom simultaneously displaces both shafts 141, 15. Shaft 14 produces the displacements previously explained, thus automatically bringing the corresponding crankshaft 59 to its top dead center. As far as shaft 15 is concerned, it will be noted (FIG. 4) that it proportionally displaces rocker lever 81, which rotates about its shaft 82. Fork S0 of this rocker lever pushes lever 63 and displaces it according to a translatory movement, as it remains duly guided by trunnion 86. In turn, this lever 68 displaces slider 61, the movements and functions of which are the same as those previously described in connection with CAB 6 the first crankshaft 59. Finally, in order to align the fourth compartment, IV (FIG. 9), with level X--X, it is suicient to maintain crankshaft 59 stationary and to bring crankshaft 60 to its bottom dead center.

Thus, by the combination of displacements of shafts 14-15, controlled by the pattern mechanism of the loom, it is possible to bring 'the crankshafts 59, 60 into the four relative positions schematically shown in FIG- URES 8 to 1l, and hence also to align with level X-X of the shuttle track any one of the box compartments, I to IV, in the above described conditions of speed and safety.

Consequently, by displacing either or both crankshafts S9, 60 each time by 180, a corresponding angular displacement of connecting rod 89 is caused, which in turn produces a corresponding oscillation of lever 92 around its pivot shaft 93. The free end of the lever 92 (FIG. 16) thus drives rod 96 step by step, upward or downward with an amplitude which is proportional to that of the oscillations of the lever 92, the rod 96 transmitting its stress by means of shoe 97 to pivot pin 101 upon which is hinged the lower end of sturdy brace 102, which is attached to shuttle box 12. As a safety device, the connection between the rod 96 and the shoe 97 is provided by means of a spring catch 99 which fits into an appropriately shaped notch in the rod 96. This device operates in such manner, that in case of an excessive stress, due for instance to an accidental blockage of the box, a relative movement between the rod 96 and the shoe 97 is immediately made possible by the almost instantaneous release of spring catch 99. In such case, the mechanism according to the present invention will operate idly. It will also be observed that the connection between rod 96 and shoe 97 can be reestablished very rapidly and easily.

In order to reinforce the very precise positioning of crankshafts 59, 60 and cranks S7, S8, provision is made so that each time the control mechanism is in one of its positions corresponding to one of the four characteristic positions of box 12, rollers 117, 118, which are spring loaded through their respective bell cranks 115, 116 and strong retracting springs 119, 129 are engaged in one of the peripheral notches 110, 111 or 112, 113 of discs 108, 109 keyed to extension shafts 33, 34 of crankshafts 59, 60 (FIG. l5).

The device of this invention is quite remarkable for its compactness and for the precision of the movements of the various elements which locate and retain the lift box in its various characteristic positions. The qualities of this mechanism depend essentially upon the design itself of the gear case in two compartments and of the appropriate distribution within this gear case of all driving and driven elements, in such manner that all elements which are particularly subjected to wear are permanently lubricated by the oil bath incorporated in one of the compartments of the gear housing. The performance of the device according to the present invention is also a result of the particular conception which led to the design of the crankshafts and of the elements driven by these crankshafts so as to form a mechanism of great stability without detrimental movements or vibrations but carrying out almost instanteonous starting and stopping motions at the precise moments and into the correct positions, being controlled by the pattern mechanism of the loom.

It is quite obvious, that the various suggestions made in this speciiication in order to obtain these results may be put to effect by different means, the elements described being replaced by any equivalent elements or elements fulfilling equivalent functions.

The present invention is concerned equally with the mechanism as a whole and with the very characteristic parts which it comprises and more particularly with the partitioned gear case and the crank shafts described above.

What I claim is:

l. Control device for the lift box movements ina loom equipped with a pattern mechanism, including a gear case divided into two compartments, oneof said com` partments being entirely closed and forming an oil bath, driving means which 'are in continuous rotary motion and driven means which are controlled by the pattern mechanism of the loom, both said means being located in said one compartment, said driven means comprising a shaft, a crankshaft connected with said shaft and two groups of driven elements mounted upon said shaft, a

separate crank carried by each driven element, a con-7 the shuttleV 2. Control device for the lift box movements in a loom Y equipped with a pattern mechanism and a lslaysword, including a gear case divided into two compartments and located at the foot of theslay sword, one of said comgpartments being entirely closed andforming an oil bath, driving means which are in continuous rotary motion, twordriven means which are controlled bythe pattern mechanism or the loom, all of said means being located in said one compartment, positioning means lo-V cated 'in the second compartment of said case, land a linkage between `said positioning means and the lift box, said positioning means being capable of positioning each compartment of the lift box in` alignment with the shuttle track of the loom, said positioning means having four characteristic positions which determine'the characteristic positions of the lift box.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,668,146 5/28 Gordon 139-179 1,760,950 6/30 Lundgren 139-179 2,101,633 12/37 VJigit 139--179 2,980,145 4/61 Herard et at. V139--57 3,101,745 8/63 Pfarrwaller 'l3968 3,111,144 11/63 Pfarrwaller 139--171 X vDONALD wr PARKER, Primary Examiner.

RUSSELL c. MADER, MERvrN STEIN, Examiners. 

1. CONTROL DEVICE FOR THE LIFT BOX MOVEMENTS IN A LOOM EQUIPPED WITH A PATTERN MECHANISM, INCLUDING A GEAR CASE DIVIDED INTO TWO COMPARTMENTS, ONE OF SAID COMPARTMENTS BEING ENTIRELY CLOSED AND FORMING AN OIL BATH, DRIVING MEANS WHICH ARE IN CONTINUOUS ROTARY MOTION AND DRIVEN MEANS WHICH ARE CONTROLLED BY THE PATTERN MECHANISM OF THE LOOM, BOTH SAID MEANS BEING LOCATED IN SAID ONE COMPARTMENT, SAID DRIVEN MEANS COMPRISING A SHAFT, A CRANKSHAFT CONNECTED WITH SAID SHAFT AND TWO GROUPS OF DRIVEN ELEMENTS MOUNTED UPON SAID SHAFT, A SEPARATE CRANK CARRIED BY EACH DRIVEN ELEMENT, A CONNECTING ROD HINGED TO SAID CRANKS, AN OSCILLATING LEVER HINGED TO SAID ROD AND A SAFETY DEVICE CONNECTING SAID LEVER WITH THE LIFT BOX, SAID SAFETY DEVICE CONSISTING OF A CATCH ENGAGED INTO A NOTCH AND A RETURN SPRING ENGAGING MENT OF SAID CASE AND CAPABLE OF POSITIONING EACH COMPARTMENT OF THE LIFT BOX IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE SHUTTLE TRACK OF THE LOOM. 